Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Final supporters
Hello Meredith and IBM:
We, the undersigned, wish IBM to consider reviving the in-person Technical Disclosure Meetings that were once held in Poughkeepsie.
Both IBM and the ISV community derived great benefit from the face-to-face interactions at the TDMs.
- We, the ISVs, were able to get solid background information on what was REALLY going on with IBM's future plans.
- IBM benefited from hearing our feedback on future z/OS releases and updates to the ancillary products.
- Clear, two-way real-time conversations avoided mistakes and misunderstandings.
The TDMs were not just a way for IBM to educate ISVs about proposed new function in upcoming hardware and operating systems. The TDMs provided a meeting place for all of the major players in the IBM mainframe solution provider ecosystem to spend time with and get to know each other twice a year for several days.
The bonds of friendship and respect formed between ISVs as a result of those meetings created strong alliances, many of which persist to this day. But those alliances have been deteriorating as a result of retirements, new people coming in and worst of all an IBM disclosure process that serves to isolate ISV participants from one another.
We, the veteran ISVs, don't know -- and have no opportunity to get to know -- the younger people coming in and they don't get a chance know us. 35 years ago, we embarked on the "Vendor Council" - a forum wherein information was exchanged and everyone knew everyone. The foundation created by the Vendor Council and it's successor, the Technical Disclosure Meetings is crumbling, and will not last long without periodic renewal.
All in all, the TDM meetings in Poughkeepsie were good for the entire "ecosystem". Both sides benefited.By contrast, attending today's "TDMs" amounts to passive participation in PowerPoint presentations - not the interaction we used to enjoy in the past.
We are more than willing to travel to Poughkeepsie at our own expense to help fund these live meetings. We hope that IBM will justify the travel costs of its people, as well.
It is now 2024 and the pandemic has receded to the level of "endemic". No further gain can be seen by holding remotely conducted events, and we find greater value in coming to Poughkeepsie and interacting with your people.
We hope you will consider this.
Signed,
PS: Signatories, please include your company name in the comments field. Thanks!
PPS: iPetition will ask you for a contribution. THIS IS OPTIONAL, and will not affect the outcome of the petition. Sincerely, Bob Shimizu - Partner, Cole Software
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Updates
August 27, 2024
I have been hearing from so many of you about the old days in Poughkeepsie and it is clear that we shared something special that is currently missing. Honestly I am just the person who started the page but the real momentum is coming from your willingness to speak up about how much these connections really mattered.
32 Comments
These meetings helped us get access to the technical people who knew specific information about z/OS. We also met others in the business with similar interest
I am from VirtualZ Corporation - I was the technical liaison between CA and IBM from the mid-1980s up through the early 2000s and I felt the meetings were immensely valuable.
The main reason in-person TDMs are better, and I want them reinstated, is that many more questions can be answered in real-time and in person than in a TDM. Person-to-person interactions with other ISVs and between IBM developers and ISV developers are also very important to ensuring the long-term wellfare of the z/OS ecosystem.
Mazda Computer Corporation, Canada IBM has done a good job running the online TDTs, but the level of two-way communication falls far short of what occurred at TDMs. The Monday reception and the "meet the developers" evening provided the opportunity for detailed discussions. It will still be necessary to provide full remote access to those who are not always able to attend in person.
It's a pity that you don't have an in-person ISV TDMs any more. In particular, the opening night reception with IBMers and execs was the very best part. You might consider a 2.5 day in-person that is simulcast and then follow-on breakout TDTs as required to cover the rest.
Open discussion helps us set better plans and directions for our clients. Peter Schwarcz Db2 Consultant
f2f once per year with a 2nd virtual one is my vote
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Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Final supporters
Hello Meredith and IBM:
We, the undersigned, wish IBM to consider reviving the in-person Technical Disclosure Meetings that were once held in Poughkeepsie.
Both IBM and the ISV community derived great benefit from the face-to-face interactions at the TDMs.
- We, the ISVs, were able to get solid background information on what was REALLY going on with IBM's future plans.
- IBM benefited from hearing our feedback on future z/OS releases and updates to the ancillary products.
- Clear, two-way real-time conversations avoided mistakes and misunderstandings.
The TDMs were not just a way for IBM to educate ISVs about proposed new function in upcoming hardware and operating systems. The TDMs provided a meeting place for all of the major players in the IBM mainframe solution provider ecosystem to spend time with and get to know each other twice a year for several days.
The bonds of friendship and respect formed between ISVs as a result of those meetings created strong alliances, many of which persist to this day. But those alliances have been deteriorating as a result of retirements, new people coming in and worst of all an IBM disclosure process that serves to isolate ISV participants from one another.
We, the veteran ISVs, don't know -- and have no opportunity to get to know -- the younger people coming in and they don't get a chance know us. 35 years ago, we embarked on the "Vendor Council" - a forum wherein information was exchanged and everyone knew everyone. The foundation created by the Vendor Council and it's successor, the Technical Disclosure Meetings is crumbling, and will not last long without periodic renewal.
All in all, the TDM meetings in Poughkeepsie were good for the entire "ecosystem". Both sides benefited.By contrast, attending today's "TDMs" amounts to passive participation in PowerPoint presentations - not the interaction we used to enjoy in the past.
We are more than willing to travel to Poughkeepsie at our own expense to help fund these live meetings. We hope that IBM will justify the travel costs of its people, as well.
It is now 2024 and the pandemic has receded to the level of "endemic". No further gain can be seen by holding remotely conducted events, and we find greater value in coming to Poughkeepsie and interacting with your people.
We hope you will consider this.
Signed,
PS: Signatories, please include your company name in the comments field. Thanks!
PPS: iPetition will ask you for a contribution. THIS IS OPTIONAL, and will not affect the outcome of the petition. Sincerely, Bob Shimizu - Partner, Cole Software
Updates
August 27, 2024
I have been hearing from so many of you about the old days in Poughkeepsie and it is clear that we shared something special that is currently missing. Honestly I am just the person who started the page but the real momentum is coming from your willingness to speak up about how much these connections really mattered.
32 Comments
Face-to-face TDMs are invaluable. During COVID, we all learned how to be productive via webcams. However, we all know the productivity gain from being in the office and communicating face-to-face.
These meetings helped us get access to the technical people who knew specific information about z/OS. We also met others in the business with similar interest
I am from VirtualZ Corporation - I was the technical liaison between CA and IBM from the mid-1980s up through the early 2000s and I felt the meetings were immensely valuable.
The main reason in-person TDMs are better, and I want them reinstated, is that many more questions can be answered in real-time and in person than in a TDM. Person-to-person interactions with other ISVs and between IBM developers and ISV developers are also very important to ensuring the long-term wellfare of the z/OS ecosystem.
Mazda Computer Corporation, Canada IBM has done a good job running the online TDTs, but the level of two-way communication falls far short of what occurred at TDMs. The Monday reception and the "meet the developers" evening provided the opportunity for detailed discussions. It will still be necessary to provide full remote access to those who are not always able to attend in person.
It's a pity that you don't have an in-person ISV TDMs any more. In particular, the opening night reception with IBMers and execs was the very best part. You might consider a 2.5 day in-person that is simulcast and then follow-on breakout TDTs as required to cover the rest.
Open discussion helps us set better plans and directions for our clients. Peter Schwarcz Db2 Consultant
f2f once per year with a 2nd virtual one is my vote
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Face-to-face TDMs are invaluable. During COVID, we all learned how to be productive via webcams. However, we all know the productivity gain from being in the office and communicating face-to-face.